MANCHESTER, England – “The Ultimate Figher” winners are often considered prospects, young in their career and in need of some refinement before moving on to face top-quality opponents.

“TUF 9″ winner James Wilks (6-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC) might appear to fit that mold at first glance, but as he prepares to face a tough Matt Brown (10-7 MMA, 3-1 UFC) at Saturday’s UFC 105 event in Manchester, England, “Lightning” believes his time is now.

“I want to establish myself as a legitimate fighter,” Wilks told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “I don’t see any fight as easy, but I certainly don’t want any easier opponents. I want the toughest opponents, and I want to challenge myself and test myself. That’s what I’m here for. I’m glad they’ve given me a tough fight.”

While Wilks has just eight professional fights to his name, the 30-year-old has spent half his life practicing martial arts.

“I’ve been doing martial arts a long time – 15 years, with everything, going back to the tae kwon do and all the traditional-type stuff – and I’ve been doing mixed martial arts for 10 years,” Wilks said. “I’ve been at it a long time, but I definitely feel I’ve still got a lot to learn.

“I’m happy now that I’m able to focus on training, and fighting in the UFC and getting paid a decent amount of money allows me to do that.”

After winning the success the Brit earned on the Spike TV reality series, Wilks was also to able to open his own gym in the U.S. Now he’s looking forward to building on his six career wins.

“Obviously the show was a great experience,” Wilks said. “I got to meet some great guys and got some great training partners, and obviously winning the show was a dream come true, really. Since then, it’s really put me on a focused track for training, and it’s also allowed me to promote my gym that I opened up in Laguna Hills, Calif.”

Wilks looked impressive on his road to the “TUF 9″ finals, but it was an overwhelming performance in his bout with DaMarques Johnson that earned him the respect of many fans.

Wilks said he felt he is capable of an even-better showing.

“I think I’ve got more to show than that,” Wilks said. “I think I attacked, and I went for about seven submissions, but obviously I didn’t finish the first six. Obviously there’s something going wrong there where I should be able to finish it.

“I think he had good defense to scramble out. I almost caught him in an omo plata, which would have been nice because I think I would have got the ‘Submission of the Night.’ But I went out to finish it, and I finished it in the first round and was fairly dominant. I think I made some mistakes. I don’t think I should have set back for a heel hook when I was on top in the guard, but it turned out OK for me. But I definitely think I’ve got more to show and people haven’t seen my full game yet.”

Brown’s game includes a devastating set of hands, but Wilks views “The Immortal” as a complete package and says he’s not sure where the best spot to attack will be.

“I think [Brown] is well-rounded,” Wilks said. “He’s aggressive. He’s a little bit unorthodox with his striking but well-rounded. I do know he’s been caught quite a few times before. He’s definitely improved since the show, but I think he’s a well-rounded opponent and a worthy opponent.

“I definitely want to test his stand-up and see where it’s at, then if he’s doing well there and I feel like I would be better off on the ground, then I’ll take it to the ground.”

Wherever the action flows, it will take place in front of a huge crowd at Manchester Evening News Arena that will undoubtedly be on Wilks’ side. While that could prove unnerving for a younger fighter making his way through the ranks, Wilks believes he’s prepared for the spotlight.

“A lot of people are calling it my debut,” Wilks said. “I would still consider the [TUF Finale] a UFC fight. Obviously this is a lot bigger crowd, but I’m trying to, as each fight goes by, get more and more relaxed in the octagon. I just try and shut out the crowd and the cameras. I just see it as a facade, really.

“I’m there to fight, and it wouldn’t matter if I was there in the gym or in the octagon. It should be the same. That’s the way I’m trying to view it.”

For complete coverage of UFC 105, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

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